Renowned for Integrity and Creativity
Founded in 1975 by Antoine Chamaa, Architectural Consulting Group (ACG) was set-up to provide high-quality architectural designs that are responsive to the needs of the users, as well as the investors.
Antoine Chamaa, a French national with a B.A. in architecture from Cairo University, has over 49 years of diverse experience in Egypt, Lebanon, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Believing in design solutions that are appropriate to the challenge, he has built up the company to incorporate several offices, with a proactive management approach that identifies the budget parameters as a guide to the design, thereby providing clients with cost-effective, practical and aesthetically pleasing solutions.
ACG was established in Abu Dhabi in 1976, Al Ain in 1979, Bahrain in 1984, Qatar in 2000 and Dubai in 2005. Throughout those years, ACG developed to become one of the industry’s most respected consultants, renowned for its innovation and creativity. ACG have continued its growth and now have offices in Fujairah and Oman. The emphasis always was, and still remains, to offer a consistently high level of service for all clients, not only striving to meet but to exceed their expectations.
ACG provide consultancy services in design, supervision and project management for residential, commercial, retail centres, mixed-use complexes, education facilities, hotels and resorts covering master planning, architecture, detailed engineering, interior design and landscaping from initial concept to handover.
With a firm commitment to quality and excellence, ACG takes pride in professional integrity through rigorous use of high technical expertise. This allows the company to ensure appropriate design solutions are assured for each project.
At the present time, ACG is busy not only in Abu Dhabi, but in other areas too (Dubai is starting to move again, but more slowly), with the company bucking the global trend during the current economic downturn. This is thanks to the fact that it has obtained an unrivalled reputation for quality workmanship over the years, and has managed to attract and retain in excess of 250 highly qualified, professional and motivated staff. Consequently, a significant percentage of its new work comes via repeat business and recommendation.
One of ACG’s completed projects is Marina Mall, located in the Abu Dhabi Breakwater area, which has quickly become a prime point of attraction and a prominent landmark for residents and tourists, all of whom enjoy leisure and shopping and family entertainment. Marina Mall is more than a shopping destination; it represents one of the largest and most important retail developments in Abu Dhabi. Indeed, building the Marina Mall has paved the way for major extensions during Marina Mall phases IA and II.
ACG has always been known for its creativity, which has been officially recognized on a large number of occasions. In association with Obermeyer Planen+Beraten GmbH, for instance, ACG was awarded first prize in the international design competition for the Dubai Central Library.
The base of the building contains public areas such as a conference centre, exhibition spaces, a bookstore, a children’s library and administrative offices. Above it, the grand space of the central library area rises in a sweeping gesture that was inspired by the shape of the traditional ‘rahle’ lectern. The new library’s holdings will include about 1,700,000 volumes.
The main activities of the library will concentrate in the middle part of the building where natural lighting from all parts would light up the area. The building has a floor area of approx. 50,000 m2. The basement will be dedicated for parking, which will accommodate as many as 1000 cars.
The future looks genuinely exciting for ACG; the company is seeking further consolidation within its existing offices in the Middle East region, which will become a platform for future expansion. In the short term, ACG is looking to move into Lebanon already underway, which once again is engaged in major construction.
ACG listens to and learns from its clients, observing their day to day operations and bringing its own ideas and knowledge of buildings and the urban environment. The resulting dialogue leads to effective design solutions that often surprise both parties.
Functioning as a team, ACG has combined its employees’ efforts and abilities to form a cohesive architectural design services organisation, which offers not only all of the professional services associated with an architectural firm, but also the ability to apply specific talents and assemble groups of specialists for a creative, thorough, and efficient solution to specific design problems.
ACG apply proven talent to achieve both the basic purpose and the advanced vision that the client envisions for their facility. ACG craft the site and the architecture in such a way that the clients get the greatest aesthetic and functional impact for their budget. ACG perform the work responsively and enthusiastically and earn respect through integrity, honesty, innovative and creativity.
